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EL CALAFATE
 (2 Nights / 3 Days)
 
 
 
DAY 01 - EL CALAFATE
El Calafate is a small town in Patagonia, Argentina. It is situated in the southern border of Lake Argentino, in the southwest part of the Santa Cruz Province, about 320 km Northwest from Río Gallegos. Its name comes from a little bush with yellow flowers very common in Patagonia, with dark blue berries: the calafate; the word comes from the word "calafate", which is Spanish for "caulk".

El Calafate is an important tourist destination as the hub to visit different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park, including the Perito Moreno Glacier (one of the most visited in the world) and the Cerro Chaltén and Cerro Torre.
* Arrival at the Buenos Aires Airport. Meet & greet by Liberty International English speaking staff.

Transfer to the Hotel.
 
DAY 02 - EL CALAFATE
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel.
FD Upsalla & Onelli Glaciers Tour (Regular navigation)
Includes private transfer round trip from hotel to Punta Bandera Port. Departure from the hotel to Puerto Banderas, located 50 Kms from El Calafate, to embark on the catamaran which will sail through the North Arm of Argentino Lake until it approaches the front wall of Upsala Glacier, going through the amazing barrier of icebergs which constantly break off the glacier wall. Upsala Glacier is the biggest glacier in Los Glaciares National Park with a surface of 1.000 Km2 . The glacier is constant receding and the process has been speeded in the last decade due to the notorious global heating, specially affecting this particular glacier because most of its frontal surface is floating on the water surface .
From here the navigation continues through Onelli Channel till Onelli Bay where you will disembark to start a 800 meters hike through the Andean-Patagonian forest to the homonymous lagoon where Onelli, Bolado, and Agassiz Glaciers descend from the surrounding mountains approaching the water surface, filling it with infinity of icebergs which enhance the exquisite beauty of the place.
Lunch at Onelli Bay.
When the weather conditions make impossible to disembark at Onelli Bay, the catamaran will moor at Las Vacas Pier, a place located near Spegazzini Glacier, where a refuge that was once used for the trekking excursions to the Continental Ice Field is located.

Return to Punta Bandera and transfer to the hotel.(arriving at 6 PM approximately).
Overnight at Hotel.
 
DAY 03 - EL CALAFATE
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel.
FD Perito Moreno Glacier
Departure from the hotel towards Perito Moreno Glacier situated within Los Glaciares National Park, 80 km from El Calafate.
From the very beginning this trip will provide pleasant surprises. Departing from El Calafate, Lago Argentino will appear on the right hand side of the road with its Bahía Redonda, that shows an interesting number and diversity of bird species. The first part of the road goes along the typical Patagonian steppe, whose characteristic species are the broom sedges (hard, thorny type of grass) and 'calafates' (bushes belonging to the burberry family which is well-known for its yellow flowers and violet fruits). From the National Park entrance onwards, the landscape changes dramatically, the flora grows richer with species that are typical of the Andean-Patagonian Forest such as: ñires, lengas and guindos.
Perito Moreno Glacier is an imposing ice river covering an area of 195 square meters, 30 Km long and a front which is 5 km wide; the front walls are between 30 and 60 meters high over the lake level. In the central area of the glacier, the ice reaches a depth of 250 to 350 meters. This frozen river descends from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field causing, during its slow advance, ice cracks and thunderous bursts that turned the glacier into a world marvel in constant movement. A show that is impressive not only for its beauty, but also for the continuous roars that are heard from its innermost recesses.

Because of its breathtaking beauty it was declared a Mankind Heritage by Unesco.
A walk along the paths placed in front of its Western wall, allows you to admire this impressive wonder of nature from different view points.

It is possible to take an optional boat trip to enjoy a different view of the glacier wall from the water level, allowing you to get a better idea of the height of its peaks and towers (Navigation: 1 hr).

Return to the hotel early afternoon.
 
Transfer out to the Airport
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